Westerner

I can't speak for the rest of the world, but Chinese people use the term Westerner to mean anybody of European descent -- including Australians -- and also just about all North Americans, of whatever heritage. Naturally, Chinese only do so when speaking English; when speaking Chinese, they tend to lump all non-Chinese under the terms:

There is great difficulty when speaking about people, places, and things which are not Chinese. It is not enough simply to use the negative; there is a definite sense among both Chinese and Westerners that there is an identifiable "Western" appearance, language, people, and culture. Of course, this is nonsense, but there still exist several words for it, which -- in the English-speaking Chinese world, have interchangeable meanings:

Often the choice of term seems dictated by political or subtle considerations. But all these terms seem to point to the same thing, whatever it is and however unreal it may be.

I am fully aware that this WU will be found offensive to many readers. I can only say that it is true. Personally, I found it offensive to be quietly squatting on the sidewalk eating a bowl of noodles and have a motorcycle boy ride by shouting laowai! laowai! laowai!